wandering_gal

I will be travelling around with my friend in Europe, and book flight instead of taking the train coz it can be cheaper. Will we be allow to go out of the airport during layovers? Possibly 8-10 hrs before the connecting flight to our destination.?

Jean

You're not locked up, so you can leave, but whether 8-10 hours is really enough time to do anything depends on the airport, transportation options (or budget for taxis), and whether you'll have luggage to babysit.

sparkchaser

An 8 hour layover at best gives you 5.5-6 hours to leave (and that doesn't include transit time from/to the airport). So it really depends on the airport and its location to stuff. AMS? Definitely. FRA? Sure. LHR? Meh, I'd just stay at the airport.

wandering_gal

what if its checked in i dont have to worry about it ryt? only my carry ons, if its really big and heavy.

adrienne

I think you're asking if you can check a bag to your final destination (but I'm not really sure - I have no idea what ryt is). This is standard procedure. You will need to keep your carry on with you when you leave the airport so pack light.

Goldens

You don't say what country issued your passport. Depending on the answer to that, you may need a visa.
If it is a US passport than you are okay to leave in the countries you listed.

hetismij2

As others have said it depends on the airports. Most low cost airlines use airports a long way from the city they claim to be landing at. Schiphol is an exception to that.
You need to check which airport you will be landing at, and visit it's website to see how far it is from anything.

With regard to Goldens comment, any visa you require for visiting the Schengen countries will cover you in any of those countries. Whether you need a visa depends on your nationality, not where you live, and you should look into that well before your planned holiday.

sparkchaser

<i>Most low cost airlines use airports a long way from the city they claim to be landing at. </i>

Frankfurt Hahn and Memmingen springs to mind.

Jean

And secondary airports don't always have good public trans into city centers.

jamikins

Completely depends on your flights, what airport, whether you are able to check luggage through, whether your flights are on the same ticket etc.

We need the full picture before anyone can provide valuable advice.

Alan_CT

Most airports have storage lockers where you could leave your carry-on bags. If you leave, don't cut the return to the airport too close, as there may be traffic or an accident when you return. We barely made our flight out of Prague in May.

Jean

"Most airports have storage lockers where you could leave your carry-on bags." Really? That's not been my experience since 9/11.

sparkchaser

<i>Really? That's not been my experience since 9/11.</i>

Have you looked for them?

FRA has them.
MUC has them.
TXL has them.
DUS has them.
NUE has them.
ZRH has them.
CDG has them.
LHR has them.
MAD has them.
AMS has them.
FCO has them.
LIS has them.
EDI has them.
ABZ has them.
DUB has them.
BRU has them.
ARN has them.
KBP has them.
RIX has them.


I think you get the idea.

michelhuebeli

Just to illustrate sparkchaser's contribution, look at
http://www.zurich-airport.com/deskto...spx/tabid-157/ for Zürich or
http://www.frankfurt-airport.com/con...bewahrung.html for Frankfurt/Main

The English "Luggage Storage" mostly translates into the German "Gepäckaufbewahrung", "lockers" are "Schliessfächer"

hollywoodsc

I've used the "Left Luggage" storage rooms at LHR and FCO so I could spend a few hours in the city during a layover.
As mentioned above, just give yourself plenty of time to retrieve your bags before catching your flight.
On one occasion the line was out the door when I went back to get my bags. Barely, and I mean BARELY made my flight!

Jean

Sorry, I took the statement about "lockers" literally. I haven't seen "lockers" in airports in years.

Mainhattengirl

Have never seen lockers in Frankfurt airport. The luggage storage facility charges 7 € per bag, per 24 hours. Lockers can be found at train stations though. Cheaper too.